(Daniela Lopez)

Choosing to invest in a reprap printer is worthwhile because over time, it will pay for itself if you chose to take advantage of its ability to recreate the necessary components to make a replicate of itself. Once you have built your first reprap printer, you can print out the pieces for a new machine, and thus begin to sell your own printers. For this reason, there are multiple websites from which you can purchase the plastic parts to build your own kit. An easier alternative that costs slightly more is to buy a fully constructed kit that already includes the necessary hardware, plastic parts, metal, wood, and screws.


Obtaining a kit

Building the Kit
This option is for users who are more familiar with the printer and know how or where to buy the different necessary parts for the printer. This is for people who can visualize the various components coming together, which can be difficult if you are unsure which type of washers, screws, threaded/smooth rods, etc. to use. It also takes a bit longer to assemble the kit but it can be a worthwhile, entertaining experience in and of itself.

Plastic Parts

For the necessary plastic parts, you can access forums where people with their own printers sell parts, such as:
RepRap Forums

Forums

  • metric model (Choice between metric and SAE models - explain usage and differences)
  • -where to get it
  • -different versions for different abilities (difference in prices, who might like the different variations. e.g. people with poor electronic circuit construction skills they sell RAMPS board fully constructed)
  • -processing time
  • -describe the box and contents
  • what the kit contained
  • What instructions
  • hints for construction
  • alignment
  • Testing

Fully Constructed RepRaps (search started here Check and update each link)